tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86424585948302513352018-03-06T09:48:22.999-07:00A&O x 4Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-30620600883506822632014-08-13T19:14:00.000-07:002014-10-30T12:22:48.519-07:00Unintelligent Design.<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Recently I participated in a study for a biology course. The course focused on behaviors observed in the human population and attempted to identify them as adaptive, or maladaptive to the species, now or in the context of the past. One of the questions we wanted to answer in our study was whether or not religion was created circumstances that were incompatible with religion. Unfortunately that part of the study was cut due to the massive amount of data that we received and the time crunch we were experiencing. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Recent events in Iraq have generated a significant amount of social media activity. The ISIS organization is conducting a civil war that borders on genocidal. Their primary target, as reported by the media has been the local Christian population. Religious crusades are far from new. Religious fighting between Christians and Muslims are certainly not unheard of. What particularly interests me about this event is that it is occurring in modern times. This allows one to observe the events without relying on any bias that can be attributed to the writers of history. Of course this does not account for the bias of media outlets or the restriction of confidential information by the federal government. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>What interests me about this situation is the response to this issue domestically. Let’s put this in evolutionary terms. A population is in a conflict with a neighboring population. The origin of this conflict is a lack of resources, or mating opportunities. It is solely due to a difference in ideology. The evolutionary smart thing to do would be to fight or hide. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The other night I was going through my social media feeds and came across a post related to the ISIS attacks in Iraq. Some of the comments made me believe that people would allow their religion to override mechanisms that would allow them to survive, and consequently reproduce and support their offspring. If these people identified themselves as Christians in a hostile environment, they, as well as their offspring would be less likely to survive. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>So then the question must be asked, is religion detrimental to the evolution of the human species?</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>I debated removing the names of the people on FaceBook that made these statements. But then I decided that if they felt that they could post their opinions, they should have their names attached to them. If they truly believe this, they can defend these beliefs in a public forum.&nbsp;</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzmQNUb_3Rc/U-wYfrBZamI/AAAAAAAACtQ/1IBQNk6De1w/s1600/the%2Bonly%2Bsmart%2Bone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzmQNUb_3Rc/U-wYfrBZamI/AAAAAAAACtQ/1IBQNk6De1w/s1600/the%2Bonly%2Bsmart%2Bone.png" height="320" width="180"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The only reasonably smart answer I found. But don't worry, the devout jump on this lady relatively quickly.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXhgZzCIOH8/U-wYeA-HUeI/AAAAAAAACtA/XyOj0kkh7aU/s1600/deny.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXhgZzCIOH8/U-wYeA-HUeI/AAAAAAAACtA/XyOj0kkh7aU/s1600/deny.png" height="320" width="180"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8nLN0jX54A/U-wYfczFO_I/AAAAAAAACtg/hX_645KUrec/s1600/martyr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8nLN0jX54A/U-wYfczFO_I/AAAAAAAACtg/hX_645KUrec/s1600/martyr.png" height="320" width="180"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_styNzXmrQ/U-wYfPOwCkI/AAAAAAAACtI/_zI8wDhwbQo/s1600/god%2Bin%2Bcountry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_styNzXmrQ/U-wYfPOwCkI/AAAAAAAACtI/_zI8wDhwbQo/s1600/god%2Bin%2Bcountry.png" height="320" width="180"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">It might also be worth noting to those who suggested we need God in our country, that Iraq has two God’s in their country and that doesn’t seem to be working out for them too well. Perhaps nations would do better with a little less God.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NXkisL46ZI/U-wYeCRDtAI/AAAAAAAACtE/Q0374Q2emr0/s1600/accept%2Bjesus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NXkisL46ZI/U-wYeCRDtAI/AAAAAAAACtE/Q0374Q2emr0/s1600/accept%2Bjesus.png" height="320" width="180"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah, God will not forsake you, he's done a bang up job protecting the Christians of Iraq.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUz46tIzDaQ/U-wYePkHYAI/AAAAAAAACs8/Kc86Kgjl_ms/s1600/crusade%2Bnot%2Bforsake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUz46tIzDaQ/U-wYePkHYAI/AAAAAAAACs8/Kc86Kgjl_ms/s1600/crusade%2Bnot%2Bforsake.png" height="320" width="180"></a></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And what was that about peaceful religion Wade?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div><br><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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</style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-7115248938427033272013-12-19T04:26:00.000-07:002014-08-13T14:06:00.276-07:00Duck Dynasty Drama.... No One Cares!For the love of Lucy! I am a supporter of the Bill of Rights as much as the next guy. I believe in all of them, I don't pick and choose. As many of you may have heard Phil Robertson has been suspended from the show "Duck Dynasty" to which he owes his fame, and has provided America with a weekly dose of bearded men, doing bearded men things.<br /><br />Apparently he was interviewed for GQ magazine and went on record as stating that homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle, and he can't imagine a man choosing an anus over a glistening, meaty vagina. And yes he did actually say just that (minus the meaty and glistening bit). He was then suspended by his network for the rest of the season. Everyone is up in arms about his "freedom of speech" being taken away. And the "freedom of speech" being removed from God and homosexual fearing Christians all over this country.<br /><br />Ok assholes, it's time for a civics lesson. The Bill of Rights is designed to protect you from one entity, and one entity only. The federal government. Over the years court decisions have determined that these protections also limit the authority of local and state governments as well. In the decade that I have been voting I never recall checking a ballot for the CEO or board of directors at A&amp;E.<br /><br />Simply put, he works for A&amp;E. Any interviews with any media outlets are an extension of his work at A&amp;E. GQ did not interview Phil for any other reason. Although there is some grumbling that a staff writer may have mentioned that his beard "was stuffed full of lice and sexy" but that cannot be confirmed nor denied.<br /><br />NO civil rights were infringed in this matter. The government didn't send out their Anti-Jesus hit squads to track him down. His employer smacked his pee-pee for saying something that (newsflash) the majority of the country doesn't agree with. Interestingly enough this is a completely different form of pee-pee slapping Phil spoke out against.<br /><br />Yes, a whole lot of Americans agree with him, because the Bible says it's so. But I would like to ask how many of those Americans also don't eat pork, shellfish, or wear clothing woven of more than one cloth. Yeah, that's right, I thought so.<br /><br />So in summation, Phil makes some bigoted comments, hiding behind the guise of a religion that maintains everyone should be loved, and is created in the image of God. Except for those dirty fags. His employer did not appreciate being implicated in the statements so they suspended him. And not the Religious Right is crying that the civil liberties of all Christians are being stripped away.<br /><br />Please, please, if you are going to come out and cry about a perceived infringement of civil liberties, learn what the hell you are talking about. Because some day, we are going to be fighting for the same cause, and I don't want to be stating my case surrounded by morons. America loves gays, get over it.<br /><br />Oh, and for the love of Pete (not gay love, because that's icky) &nbsp;stop comparing this to slavery or the acts of Hitler. Every time I hear that I get the uncontrollable urge to kick a kitten. Please stop, nothing in modern politics compares to slavery or the holocaust. And I am starting to run out of kittens. Can't everyone cut back on the hyperbolic bullshit and stop using your religion to tell me why I should marginalize a group of people in the same way you do. Stop using God to justify your actions to others, simply so you can feel better about yourself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-20555146601851993202013-11-19T13:04:00.000-07:002014-08-13T14:09:00.241-07:00Someone once said something about sticking together or hanging separately.....I always enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations". I recognized him as a person with rather left wing views. But this is proof that not everyone needs to be a card carrying Tea Party, Conservative Christian, Republican, NRA member to support the second amendment. Yes, advocacy groups have their place. And I believe that is what the NRA once was. However I truly feel that they have been infected by the same mutagenic virus that the Republican Party fell victim to. When I receive their news letters I see the same inflammatory and exaggerated language that I see used by the Brady Campaign. This always annoyed me, I believe that if your cause is on the right side of the argument, then you can win the battle with logic and facts, without using fear mongering, emotion, and hyperbolic language.<br /><br /><a href="http://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2013/11/11/4-cnn-liberals-walk-into-a-bar-and-defend-gun-rights/?singlepage=true" target="_blank">Here is the link to Anthony Bourdain on guns.</a>&nbsp;His stance is not what one would expect.<br /><br />This is the primary reason I am fed up with the NRA. Their mailed advertisements are dripping with Tea Party propaganda. They often overstep the issues of gun control and push an agenda related to healthcare and other conservative pet issues. They are no longer a 2A group, but a Tea Party propaganda machine. Additionally, if one does not fit their ideal right wing persona then their rights to own a firearm are somehow second to everyone those who lean more to the left. People who disagree with second amendment protections are labeled "liberals" and in the process their stance is immediately discarded regardless of validity. But the plain and simple fact of the matter is the current Tea Party tactic is to label anyone who disagrees with any of their talking points as a liberal. Don't despise the Affordable Care Act? Liberal. Do you agree that illegal immigration is a problem, but are of the opinion that it is unpractical to bus 12 million people out of the country? Liberal. Atheist? Liberal. Pro-choice, or support equal rights for the LBTG community? Liberal.<br /><br />What's in a label? Well first and foremost the arguments presented by pro-gun rights conservatives and liberals are pretty much the same. However the unfortunate effect of Fox News and the spokespeople of the Republican Party has done a great deal to negate the credibility of anyone who associates themselves with issues considered conservative. When the time comes to debate concealed carry law and other issues related to gun control, even the most reasonable conservative speakers tend to get drowned out and associated with the latest clips from the likes of Cruz and Bachmann. I am sorry, but neither of those two are known for their conflict resolution skills or general intelligence. The current practice of drowning out those who believe in gun rights, but opposed the conservative world view in other respects is a disservice to the cause as a whole.<br /><br />A prime example of this self defeating behavior is what happened to the former Guns &amp; Ammo writer Dick Metcalf. Once you get past the hype of his article, and consider his intended message, it isn't illogical. He stated facts of current firearm legislation. The second amendment is not excepted from regulation, no constitutional amendment is. Is that the appropriate and moral way to treat the Bill of Rights? I am not prepared to answer that question. But as it stands, between legislation, and Supreme Court rulings, that's the way it is. He simply stated that firearm ownership is subject to laws, and that is not tyranny, it is simply a fact of life. He pointed to the "well regulated" part phrase in the second amendment itself. In addition he stated that the right to own, possess, and carry a gun is not the same as having the right to be irresponsible with that firearm.<br /><br />As a gun owner you, and you alone are responsible for maintaining the reasonable security and safety of that firearm. Nothing about that is false. And the fact that the uprising caused the magazine to run away with it's tail between it's legs is the reason that the conservative base is not taken seriously when it comes to issues surrounding gun control. He then went out on a limb and said that background checks are not a bad thing. I can't fault this logic either. If felons were unable to obtain firearms via private sale, then the law abiding gun owner is even further removed from the conflict. Would I support universal background checks? Probably, if the mental health system was fortified to report into the NICS system the information that it was always meant to, then yes, as a reasonable gun owner I would be okay with preserving my right to own and carry a firearm while taking reasonable steps to prevent felons and those adjudicated mentally insane from being armed. Why advocate self-defense, yet cripple the legal mechanisms that are designed to increase public safety?<br /><br />When a spree shooter is found to have stolen the gun, then gun owners are off the hook. No security system in the world is thief proof, and that can be argued when the push for new gun control comes. No amount of foresight in the world will stop all criminals. So don't punish gun owners for something beyond their control. But when a spree shooter buys a weapon from a private party from a gun show, be prepared for the backlash. The seller will be blamed, and that blame will transfer to every person who ever owned a firearm.<br /><br />Really, one of our own came out and said that gun laws should be followed, and it's each individuals responsibility to maintain safety and control of their guns got him ran out of town. Sometimes I think we are our own worst enemy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;Mark my words, that us versus them mentality will eventually be the downfall of second amendment rights.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-86630941911140849932013-09-24T16:43:00.001-07:002013-09-24T16:43:47.204-07:00ASU Police Department Continued...The post I put about ASU has generated some buzz, here is a link to a blog that is written exclusively about that single issue. The take away point is that the ASU police department is not being run efficiently, and the ones suffering are the line level cops who will be the ones responding to our scenes. I have never seen accusations of misconduct that so badly required investigation. The only way will this will happen is if students and parents get pissed off enough.<br /><br />Here is a link to the blog. I don't know the author, but who ever really knows the writer of a blog? But based on the repetition of these stories from around the internet I think it merits some trust at face value.<br /><br />Also look for the interesting bit about the sexual assault reports from the last 10 days. All on or just off campus.<br /><br />https://network23.org/theintegrityreport/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-26086108928545578592013-09-14T23:37:00.001-07:002013-09-15T04:33:13.129-07:00Arizona State University will not allow concealed carry, Police
Department unable to handle active shooter<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You probably know this already, but I am a huge fan of concealed carry. I believe it is safe, and even provides a benefit to those who choose not to carry. As soon as the news broadcasts that a new place allows citizens to be armed, everyone knows there may be a gun there, good guys and bad guys. But the Arizona Board of Regents would lead people to believe that allowing students 21 years of age and older, who have had the requisite background checks required of the concealed carry permit will lead to blood in the lecture halls. It simply is not true. Universities that do allow it have had no issues to date.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the last few months around ASU a student was beaten with a baseball bat, a shooting occurred at a party in an apartment complex near campus, another student was beaten and left for dead in an elevator around campus, and Tempe Police shot a guy less than a quarter mile from the ASU campus. The man was shot because he lunged at them with a box cutter. It could have just as easily occurred on campus to a student. Because as anybody who goes to ASU can attest, people who are obviously severely mentally ill wander around campus all the time. It is not rare to witness a transient yelling at a young women because she is wearing too little clothing, just add box cutter and we have a problem.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Board of Regents would also lead you to believe that they have thought about our safety and given us the protection we deserve. We have the ASU Police Department. Do I think that the presence of a police department is justification for removing the basic right of self protection, no, but its a start. At least I thought until I found this gem online.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The following is an excerpt from a job posting site. Apparently the ASU Police Department is a frequent topic there. And that's when things got concerning.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Straight from an ASU PD employees post on a job site.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"One other thing I forgot to touch on...yes, all departments DO have their issues (no one is debating that fact here). But I cannot think of any, off the top of my head, that are so blatantly corrupt and mismanaged.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The amount of $$ the PD waste is absolutely mind-boggling; from a department that boasts a 70% FAILURE RATE FOR FTO (after spending the money to pay for an academy, uniform, salary, etc), to one that wastes money on ludicrous "specialty assignments" (really? ANOTHER new K9 vehicle!), take home vehicles for command staff, and a complete revamp of the uniform and badge. On top of that, ASUPD has the LOWEST paid officers in the Valley and the highest paid Chief. That is absolutely unacceptable.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Furthermore, because of staffing, the campus is ridiculously understaffed, and quite frankly, not prepared for any MAJOR crime on campus (like an active shooter). I am not even going to go into detail on the vast amount of public record tampering that transpires there too, because there's not enough space to detail it all.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I hope parents and the public at large find out how much money ASUPD wastes and how unsafe it is, because then maybe some significant change will happen there."</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.indeed.com/forum/cmp/Arizona-State-University/Arizona-State-University-Police-Department-Review-employee/t471607</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yep, feel much safer now! Not prepared for an active shooter. Just to clarify, an active shooter the professional term for an unbalanced, cowardly asshole who takes a firearm and or explosives to a school, mall, movie theater, or place of employment and shoots every person they come across. Essentially every college campus shooting that has every occurred. Can we trust the Arizona State University, the Arizona Board of Regents, and Arizona State University Police Department to protect students. Or here is the better question, should I have to give up the ability to protect myself because I step foot on a college campus? I would love to hear some feedback from ASU or the ABOR that is honest and not in the form of a press release with the latest committee approved buzz words.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Don't you feel safe now! At least let me protect myself. Thanks to ABOR for denying me the basic right of self preservation while simultaneously continuing to fund a dysfunctional police department.</span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-77889612710617745862012-12-03T19:22:00.001-07:002013-02-05T21:50:40.437-07:00Remora holsters reviewI haven't posted product reviews, not sure if it is something I plan to do more often. But any rate here it goes. Recently I came across Remora Holsters on the vast interwebs. My first thought was immediate dismissal. In photos these holsters look to be nothing more than bigger versions of the common and cheap pocket holsters. However I needed a pocket holster so I tried I one. I figure at worst, I end up with a decent pocket holster, at best, it works as intended.<br /><br />My initial thoughts couldn't be further from my assumptions. The built quality is more substantial than that of the typical pocket holster. What is most apparent is the heavy, high resistance rubber found on the outside of the holster body. The idea is that this material is substantial enough to anchor the holster in the waistband and keep it from moving. As a matter of fact it works so well it was difficult to remove from the plastic bag it was shipped in. <br /><br />The inside of the holster is made from a substantial feeling nylon material. In between the two layers appears to be a neoprene like material. I am unsure of what it actually is, but it is thick enough to keep the bits and pieces sticking out from the gun from sticking you in the side, yet thin enough to add virtually no width to the gun. <br /><br />Carrying the gun inside the waistband proved easy with a small .380. It worked well in just elastic band shorts. I was very impressed with the small sized holster, so I decided to try it with a bigger, heavier gun. I ordered one for a officer sized 1911. The model in particular was a Rock Island compact. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, even with the significant weight of an all steel gun, the holster didn't move at all. It stays anchored well against an undershirt. But even more surprising, it is completely anchored against skin.<br /><br />The .380 model was ordered with their one handed re-holsering option. This is essentially a piece of plastic sewn into the holster mouth which allows it to stay open against the waistband of the pants. While it does make it easier to put the gun into the holster, it isn't quite one handed, but it beats taking the holster out and reinserting the whole affair. It does make pocket carry a bit more difficult.<br /><br />Overall I am very impressed with these products. I can see myself quickly expanding my collection to handle most of my other often carried guns. Next on my list is giving their dual magazine carrier an honest try. I will update more with the results of that test. But so far, I have been converted to a Remora believer from a skeptic. When I first saw these I assumed these were another gun show fad designed to do nothing more than take money from gun owners pockets. But I was proven dead wrong, these are a simple but stunningly effective first rate product.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XCyjA11dQL8/UKXzkPp4iQI/AAAAAAAAAMM/wSQ9ZOFcNR4/s640/blogger-image-1121164559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XCyjA11dQL8/UKXzkPp4iQI/AAAAAAAAAMM/wSQ9ZOFcNR4/s640/blogger-image-1121164559.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-57869717981494100712012-12-03T19:10:00.000-07:002014-08-13T14:17:54.177-07:00Masterpiece Arms Protector II Review.<br />Hi all<br /><br /><br />I am posting this on my favorite few forums and blogs (and here because it's mine) because I had a hard time finding reviews on this model.<br /><br />This is a review of my Masterpiece Arms Protector II. I have searched far and wide for a review of this gun before deciding to pick it up ages ago. As it seems, there aren't so many examples of this gun on the internet. What appealed to me is the steel construction and the lack of MIM'd parts on the gun. The gun resembles a Seacamp .380, the main differences include the added beavertail, barrel porting, and the placement of the magazine release.<br /><br />First impressions. This thing is light for a solid steel gun. When I picked up the plastic hardshell box it came in I immediately thought someone at the factory forgot to put the firearm in there. The gun comes packages with one magazine, a +10% magazine spring and a flat baseplate to replace the one with the finger rest. I tried the flat base plate, and did not like it. The extra mag spring wasn't needed as the gun functioned ok without it. Also included is the most worthless trigger lock I have ever seen. It is like the one that Big 5 uses, it is simply a large screw with plastic blocks on either side. The head of the screw has two holes that a spanner type key fits into.<br /><br />One thing to note on this gun is it is capable of firing without a magazine. However there is a warning not to. The side of the magazine functions as the internal surface which the trigger bar rides against. If it's not there, it will disconnect after releasing the hammer. The fix for this is easy, it just involves removing a grip panel, but not something you want to do out in the wild if it can be avoided.<br /><br />The slide was very stiff when first handled unboxed. This is typical of most .380 pocket guns. However after the initial run of 100 rounds it is much easier to use. Keep in mind that the recoil springs (there are two) need changed every 200 rounds. I would highly advise keeping a few extra on hand, the manufacturer sells them at a great price.<br /><br />At the range I fired three types of ammo. Hornady Critical Defense, Aguila JHP (both 90 grn), and HPR 90 grain XTP JHP. First I ran 25 rounds of the HPR ammo. At first I noticed that some of these rounds were too long for the magazine. Not all of them, but maybe one out of five. Then I ejected a round that was chambered half way through a magazine and noticed excessive bullet setback. I fired a few more rounds and had a high failure rate due to the bullet taking a significant set. They did the same thing in my Sig P238 as well. I was able to compress the rounds by hand, so I blame this solely on the HPR ammo. The other rounds did function 100%.<br /><br />Down to the actual shooting. This gun lacks traditional sights. Instead it has a U-channel down the top of the slide, and continuing to the barrel. It does what is meant to do, but it will never be a bullseye gun. The farthest I shot at was 20 feet. I didn't produce the best group I ever had, but all of the rounds were easily center mass. In retrospect I should have taken a picture of the target. Recoil was stout, but not as bad as I expected. Those two small holes for porting really do their job. The Aguila and HPR produced a decent flash from the porting. But the Hornady Critical Defense didn't produce any that I could discern. And no flash was visible with any ammo if you were focusing on the sight. My two complaints are that the grip panels may need touched with a fine grit sandpaper at the rear by the beaver tail as there is a very slight edge to them. And the magazine release is hard to manipulate. But when taking the grip off ( because I forgot to insert an empty magazine when dry firing) it pops right out. A little Flitz along the edges that interface with the spring and the cut out in the frame, and a drop of good lube and it works much more smoothly. Also about 25 rounds in plus some good lubing the slide is much easier to manipulate.<br /><br />All in all for under $300 this is an excellent buy. It's not without the limitations many other pocket .380's have. But for the same price range as a Kel-tec (who I love by the way) its a great choice.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-18307166062018254062012-08-29T08:58:00.001-07:002012-08-29T09:29:31.430-07:00Removing the Republican Party off of Life Support<br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dear RIght Wing Crackpots</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I supported you for years, I have always enjoyed the idea of a lean government with an appreciation for personal freedoms. When the Tea Party came around, I believed in the message, I believed in Americans taking the governmental focus away from lobbyists and big money and making it about the citizens again. It wasn't long before that movement and the political party got over run by extremists that are the likes of the American Taliban. Strict adherence to a historical story supported entirely by faith and it's related literature (the Bible), desire to control a women's reproductive choices, the fear mongering and vitriol directed at those who disagree with them that is just one step shy of inciting physical violence. And most importantly their extremists views have either forced good Republicans out of office, or made those in office share their views in the public eye in order to keep their jobs.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For the last and final time. Your god is not real, evolution is real, so stop shoving your non-existent puppet master up my ass every time I read about the 2012 election. Abortion is none of the governments business, and if two dudes want to be in a relationship and receive the same tax benefits as a married couple, who gives a shit? I don't see how restricting any of these things increases freedom, but I do see how it mandates people live the Christian lifestyle that you so boldly want to force on all of us.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Right now the extremists would call me a filthy socialist anti-American terrorist. But let me lay this out really clearly for all of you, because quite frankly I don't care what you think. Here are my opinions, you decide where I fall in your mind, because the titles of this two party system have led to nothing but a wide divide in this government that has managed to accomplish nothing.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gun control: Against it, restricting liberty has not shown to reduce crime. Data has shown it for years, end of discussion.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Abortion: I am not pro-choice, I am straight up pro-abortion. Too many kids are born to mothers who are unwilling or unable to raise them. They then become a burden on the taxpayers. Allow easy and legal access to abortion without the mandated "guilt ultrasounds". See that respects freedoms, and is fiscally responsible, suck on that Paul Ryan.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gay Marriage: If I hear the word abomination one more time my head may explode. For the last time, get your superstition out of my government. All your strict adherence to the bible tells me is that you are too stupid, scared, or lazy to make decisions based on your world experiences. Besides the references to homosexuality in the Bible are questionable at best. And this is operating under the premise that the stories in the Bible are real to begin with.&nbsp; A friend of mine who is a devout Christian said that he personally does not agree with gay marriage, but he does realize that his church isn't the government, and not everyone shares his views. This is the most enlightened approach to this subject I have heard so far. For crying out loud, let gays get married, their homes will probably look better than ours anyway.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Immigration: The system is broken, however illegal is illegal. Amnesty is a bad idea, I do not believe in rewarding those who break the law. Do I have the solution? Nope, and I don't claim to. But I am at least willing to talk about it without breaking the debate down into partisan name calling.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Drug laws: I am in support of the regulation of most controlled substances. I have first hand witnessed the effects of these substances, and they do destroy people. And lets face it, most drug users never get caught, so I can reasonable say that it is the drug itself, not the fallout from the legal system that deregulation would prevent.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Economy: Hell if I know, but all I know is we seemed to be doing fine when the commercial and investment banks were split. A piece of legislation that went into effect as a protection after the Great Depression. It seems as if the American public never learns.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Death Penalty: Firing squads are much less expensive.</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">National Defense: We spend a ton of money on it. But we got leveraged into that position by the rest of the world. We have somehow assumed the default role of "World Police" while other countries "support" us by sending a case of ammunition and a few soldiers. However I do believe in solidly wiping any country off the map when they become an active aggressor towards us. However not in this new sensitive post-Vietnam war style, in the "George Washington crossing the Delaware river at night on Christmas and kill you in your sleep style".&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Healthcare: There is a problem with healthcare this country. I am not sure the new laws are the way to fix it, as a matter of fact, I am pretty sure they are not. I do however think that some regulation needs to exist in areas where it hasn’t in the past. Lets look as the drug companies and the frivolous lawsuits. The other crisis is too many people receive healthcare. There is no reason the tax payers should be providing life extending treatment to chronic drug addicts and people unwilling to take interest in their own care. If your not interested in managing your life, than I am not either. That being said, there is a segment who need care and can not afford it. Again, I do not claim to have the answers, but I am willing to discuss it. Which is more that you can say about the asshats we keep employed making these legislative decisions.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am going to commit the absolute worst sin a Republican can commit. I am changing my political party on my voter registration. I have dabbled in Libertarian, and Independent, but thats not a strong enough message. I believe the Republican party is dying, it is a matter of time before the cancer of religious extremism does them in. And I want to do everything in my power to speed up that process. Think of it as a political mercy killing. The sensible conservative party has become demented, very expensive to keep alive, a huge burden to it's family members, and is shitting it's bed every night about the time the nightly news comes on. It is time to remove it from the ventilator, and maybe hold a pillow over it's face if needed. Although I do not support President Obama and many of the decisions he has made, I don't support the Republicans about as much. I am therefore changing my party to Democratic.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Don't cry, when things get better I will come back. But I am trying to send a message by shrinking the numbers as much as I can. You can't turn around without hearing how much your vote matters. That may or may not be total bullshit. But I can imagine that the number of registered voters surely matters to a political party in an election year.&nbsp;</span></div>Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-13798402140317298122012-08-18T09:44:00.001-07:002012-08-18T09:44:57.790-07:00Holy CrapHoly crap guys! I just realized that I haven't posted on here in two years. I am busier than ever with life. I have decided to finish my undergraduate work and attempt to get into a medical school. And I have transferred to work in an Emergency Department. My days working in the field are pretty much gone. I miss it, but I don't miss the political crap I had to deal with due to the nature of working as a volunteer in an EMS/Law Enforcement agency. The plus side, is the Emergency Department has given me many more great stories, and I have learned so much more in the last year than I have in the last 8 years of working in the hospital on the med/surg floors. I will try to be better, I promise. Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-78207544862339785232010-08-22T16:42:00.000-07:002010-08-22T16:43:21.100-07:00The best opening line ever. June 1st, 2008At work when we get a patient admitted I will read through the patient care report that the paramedcs write. And last night I think I found the most epic opening ever. The patient was a female who was drunk to the point of no return. The first sentence simply said “Patient was found on a party bus.” Just for a moment think about how great your night must have been up until that point. She was certainly having much more fun that the patient that was “Found spread over the hood of a GMC Yukon”.<br /><br /> <br /><br />It’s the simple things that keep me amused.Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-7078505989620024962010-08-16T11:09:00.005-07:002012-08-29T09:27:17.272-07:00Surgery 2Well.... It's done. Overall the surgery went smoothly, the tumor is out, and they were able to reattach the bone and sew my ass up. That's great. However you get a totally different perspective of healthcare from being the patient. That being said I have had some really good experiences and some not so good ones. I don't even remember the post-op recovery period. I do however remember being moved to the ICU. The day nurse I had on the day of surgery was great. She was very helpful to me and my family. Pain control was excellent. Overall a great A+ experience. My night nurse however started out strong, but as time went on really couldn't give a shit. She was short with my wife, which I didn't appreciate. But the most infuriating part was the approximately 7 hour gap in pain medication the day after surgery.<br /><br />Now please understand me here. I am not one of those people trying to get drugs. I haven't ever really been on pain meds until this experience. However, imagine this. You have been laying face down for a four hour surgery. They cut through your skin, and some of the most dense muscle in your body. Then they saw off the rear portion of two of your vertabrae, open the dura, and cut out a nerve root, slowly slice off a tumor, and reseal your dura, screw your bone back on, and then sew up the muscle of your lower back, and stich the skin. That muscle contracts every time you do anything. Even a simple cough causes pretty siginficant pain. And now imagine that 20 short hours after this, all of your pain meds have been discontinued because this nurse had the forsight or the willingness to simply change an order in a computer, or even enter the room when you asked for help. Unacceptable. I guess I simply wasn't exciting enough for this critical care nurse. <br /><br />Fortunately that day I was transferred to telemetry. The nurse there was someone I had known for quite a while. She was great, the night nurse was great, and then I was lucky enough to have her the next day. I spent three days on tele, and then was discharged.<br /><br />The Neurosurgeon, Internal Medicine doc, and Cardiologist I saw while inpatient were all great. I am lucky in the respect that I work with my Internal Medicine doctor. So when this all started I had the luck of picking the Neurosurgeon. The Cardiologist was a random assignment as far as I was concerned. But I got lucky, and he is a good guy. <br /><br />More people than I expected came to see me, and I heard from just about everyone I knew on the internet. I am very thankful for all the support from my friends. And for God's sake my wife. That poor woman, I have been such a pain in her ass. Just ask her about it.<br /><br />Overall I am home, and recovering. All things at this point are looking good. I am able to walk fine, albeit slow at times. I am not on anything for pain, and the incision is looking good. If I had to put a number to it I would say I am 98&amp; independant. I am still stuck with lifting restrictions however. So we follow up with the Neurosurgeon and he wants to scan the rest of my back and brain. So until then...Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-10873023388077172032010-07-28T11:56:00.003-07:002010-07-28T12:13:21.618-07:00Surgery 1Well for those of you that don't know already I will be having a surgery August 5th. Fortunately and Unfortunately the surgery will be at the hospital I work at. Three months of chronic lower back pain ultimately led to an MRI of the lumbar spine being done. Those images revealed a 2cm tumor in the spine. Surgery should be quick and easy. Hopefully I'll get some wicked bad ass tumor pictures to put up here. So far things seem to be going pretty smoothly, aside from the original back pain, but we will all have a nice sigh of relief after the pathology results come back. A week or so in the hospital, and some out patient physical therapy and hopefully I will be as good as new. Plus I will get a shiny new airport security pass to go with some new hardware. The plus side is I will have some free time at home to write more. I really haven't been as current with this site as I would like to be. Maybe I will piece together some articles or some kind of educational material. Or maybe I will be doing some mad rantings. Whatever the case, hopefully I will put some good stuff up.Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-89597073340080736282010-06-22T23:09:00.002-07:002010-06-22T23:23:08.699-07:00Top tweets.I just thought to myself, I haven't posted anything on my blog in a long time. I was thinking of something good to put up. But I drew a blank. Lifes kinda just chugging along, and nothing really exciting has happened lately worth writing. So I figured I would do what all good bloggers do. Take a collection of their "micro blogs" (i.e. tweets) and post them in one large post. So here we go. Feel free to plunge into my warped mind, or feel free to follow me on twitter (mace85). <br /><br />When everything in a hospital beeps, all the time. How do you know which beeps are important? Is my pt in asystole or is my popcorn done? <br />8:48 AM Dec 4th, 2009 via UberTwitter <br /><br /> I am so happy, sunshine and roses are coming out of my ass. No really. PEOPLE ARE AWESOME !!! <br />7:04 AM Dec 4th, 2009 via UberTwitter <br /><br />Today just feels like a .45acp kinda day... http://tweetphoto.com/5512054 <br />12:48 PM Nov 28th, 2009 via UberTwitter<br /><br />Absolutely stoked to hear that Vltor is going to release the BREN TEN !! Gotta get me one. In a Galco Miami Classic :-) Don Johnson anyone ? <br />9:50 AM Nov 27th, 2009 via UberTwitter<br /><br />Walking into work a lady stops me to ask where the hospital is. Not even clocked in and getting asked dumb questions. I am screwed today. <br />8:04 AM Nov 27th, 2009 via UberTwitter<br /><br />Ok. I swear for Educ. Reasons only. Does anyone have the pic of the meth user who is A&OX4 with his abdomen open in his yard? <br />6:21 PM Nov 25th, 2009 via UberTwitter <br /><br />Steve West is a sexy bitch... Just saying... It had to be said... <br />12:02 PM Nov 25th, 2009 via UberTwitter <br /><br />You know, under these clothes, I am completely naked.... <br />10:33 AM Nov 23rd, 2009 via UberTwitter <br /><br />I have a recycle bin by my desk that has a sign on it saying "do not use until program is in effect" with a bag over it. WTF? <br />8:01 AM Nov 23rd, 2009 via UberTwitter <br /><br />New rule: Females over the age of 14 aren't allowed to talk about "texting a boy". <br />7:58 AM Nov 13th, 2009 via UberTwitter<br /><br />"I am so full of happiness some sneaks out my butt-hole." If you have to ask you have no idea... <br />11:27 PM Nov 8th, 2009 via web <br /><br />And of course my favorite series of tweets...<br /><br />Health tip: Afraid of cavities? Wrap your teeth in aluminum foil and feel free to enjoy all the halloween candy you want! <br />1,257,013,764,000.00 via web<br /><br />Health tip: Men afraid of catching an STD? Tie a loop of dental floss around your genitals tightly, leave for 4 days. 95% decrease in STD's <br />1,256,966,726,000.00 via web<br /><br />Health tip: Hemmorrhoids ruining your drawers? Take some dry ice to the rectum. It's cooling and cauterizes those pesky bleeders! <br />1,256,951,072,000.00 via web<br /> <br />Health tip: Good news diabetics. You have to give up sugar. But you can drink as much beer as you want. Beer has no sugar! <br />1,256,943,799,000.00 via Seesmic<br />Hope everyone out there is finding my health tips fun and useful... <br />3:38 PM Oct 30th, 2009 via Seesmic <br /><br />Health tip: Just had a stroke? Do what the pro's do. Take some Aspirin cut into your femoral artery and fish the clot out with a pipe snake <br />3:32 PM Oct 30th, 2009 via Seesmic <br /><br />Health tip: Worried about catching H1N1? Take a lesson from contractors. Seal your mouth and nose with duct tape. No more airborne viruses! <br />2:52 PM Oct 30th, 2009 via web<br /> <br />Health tip: Constipated? Try foaming drain cleaner. Not only does it clear the blockage, but it cleans the walls of the pipes as well. <br />7:53 AM Oct 30th, 2009 via web <br /><br />Todays health tip: Keep your eyes clean. Bleach removes that pesky film from your cornea. <br />6:09 AM Oct 30th, 2009 via web<br /> <br />Todays health tip: Keep your eyes clean. Bleach removes that pesky film from your cornea. And it sanitizes!!! <br />6:09 AM Oct 30th, 2009 via webMarknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-39852820107419780622010-04-09T14:15:00.005-07:002010-04-09T14:21:06.973-07:00Application submitted to our groupWe just got a message from a woman who lives across the country from our great state. She wants to join our VOLUNTEER EMS group. She wanted to know if we would pay for her travel expenses and lodging. Here is my reply (the names have been changed to protect the ignorant):<br /><br />Dear Ma'am<br /> <br />We at the Medical Rescue Team are very greatful for your application. Normally we do pay for travel and lodging expenses. Our current transportation contractor runs private Learjets out of Scottsdale Municipal Airport. Flights are scheduled at your convenience and you will find a fully stocked bar and enjoy in cabin wireless internet and television. A meal will be provided. This month is our surf and turf special. A 20 ounce prime rib with a fresh Maine Lobster with a fully stocked Oyster bar. Our aircraft is also equipped with a stage and brass pole. We normally provide dancers for in flight entertainment. But seeing as how you are a woman, we aren't able to provide entertainment. Our male dancing service is currently in a contract dispute. However if you are into women we may be able to work something out. <br /> <br />Our lodging is at the "Expensive hotel" in "Here". It is in the heart of the city and near the clubs and shopping. Will provide a car and driver in order to make your transportation as effortless as possible. The hotel is a five star resort with excellent dining options. If that doesn't meet your lodging needs we will gladly put move your accomidations to the "More expensive hotel". We also offer spa services. Nothing feels better after a day of sweating your sack off in 122 degree heat, dealing with the best drunks that "Insert recreational area of choice here" has to offer, than a massage and facial. After all hard work in the desert is no reason to let your pores get clogged. <br /> <br />When you show up to your job site, you will be met with your service vehicle. We are currently using Hummer H1's outfitted with LED warning lights, 200 Watt sirens, turbo chargers, F.L.I.R., and a full set of ALS equipment. We use computerized charting and wirelessly transmit the data to responding transport units and the hospital. All of your equipment will be provided free of charge, and you will have 2 assistants on scene. <br /> <br />We at the Medical Rescue Team eagerly await your arrival. And welcome to the team.<br /> <br /> <br />Sincerely<br />Me.<br /> <br /> <br />In order to protect the environment this e-mail was created using 100% post-consumer recycled electrons.Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-41934224003443824532010-02-11T10:28:00.001-07:002010-02-11T10:29:34.947-07:00Be careful out there...The other day I happened to be witness to an unfortunate situation. There could have been some less than desirable outcomes for the patient. Fortunately however it didn't turn out that way. As with all errors and failures in judgement, there is a lesson to be learned here. The lesson here being complacency is dangerous.<br /><br />Whether your driving, walking down the street, treating a patient, or handling a firearm. The second you lose sight of what your doing, or worse even, fail to recognize the potential consequences of your actions, you have put yourself behind the curve.<br /><br />In this particular situation, a seemingly harmless act had the potential to cause great harm. As a healthcare provider, at any level of care, your responsibilty to the patient comes first. Never forget that it is your responsibility and your's alone. Don't trust anyone else to look out for your intrests. At the end of the day, it's your name that goes in the chart. And if something goes wrong, it's your responsibility to answer for it.<br /><br />Be careful, trust no one but yourself.Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-19916639816278168692010-01-22T11:50:00.003-07:002010-01-22T11:52:56.052-07:00A long break...I am the worst blogger ever....<br /><br />I haven't been able to keep the posts going. Things have been busy, but nothing really exciting for the readers has happened lately. I am sorry to disappoint my readers (both of them)! <br /><br />The good news is the winter trauma season seems to be picking up. Hopefully that will results in some good old fashioned carnage stories. <br /><br />Until then, keep checking back, and I will try to keep things current.Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-42367423929032544572009-12-03T21:01:00.005-07:002009-12-03T23:07:44.196-07:00Swiss gun control.I submit to you my views:<br /><br />Many of you who know me know I am a staunch supporter of the United States Constitution. I believe in the American people's right to do what they want without government interference, unless of course these actions harm another person. Want to be a Catholic, gay, Muslim, atheist, straight, gun owner, non-gun owner, rodeo clown, fat, or heaven forbid.... make your own health care decisions. Go right ahead and do it. Be or do all of those at the same time, I don't care. In fact I respect you for being an adult and finding something you do believe in.<br /><br />I do have a few conditions however. Number one, work. Yes I have a job, I pay taxes, and I will gladly pay them to keep the country safe and REASONABLY regulated.<br />I will even allow part of those taxes to provide necessities for the unemployed under the condition they were formerly employed. Work as a dishwasher for 5 years after high school and lost your job because your restaurant closed? Fine, here's some help until you can get back on your feet. Fought for our country, then worked 50 years in the private sector? Awesome, thanks for all you've done, here is money to live on in your retirement years and health insurance until your very last day on this earth. Dropped out of high school, and got knocked up at 16 in the back of a Kia? Screw you, you're on your own. Your daddy and his "baby momma" on welfare, you never gave two shits in school, and you want your welfare check now that your 18? Screw off, get a job, sign up for the military, or go back to school. What's that you say? Your last dose of Heroin in NPW (normal puddle water) was bad and you have an abscess on your arm from when you shot up? Sorry dude, it's gonna be hard to hold up your sign and change cup with one arm. Want to come to the hospital and get treated? For free? Nope. Because my friend this is how we learn. I am a firm believer that if you put absolutely nothing into society, you should get nothing out of it. Other countries that do this are called "Socialist". Something that the White House assures us our president is not. His policies, ideals, and cabinet members seem like they are. But that simply because we are stupid, tax paying, heartless voters who simply just don't know any better. <br /><br />There is one thing that will keep our country from turning into a complete and total failure. It is the Constitution. Our founding fathers weren't stupid. They saw all this coming. The knew all too well that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. They built safeguards into the system. The first ten amendments, the "Bill of Rights". Not just a list of rights the government grants us in the eyes of it's creators. But a list of rights that are given and ought to be given to every person by which ever god you believe in, that the government recognized and agreed not to screw with. I am not a religious person at all. But the right to assemble, protest, due process, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to own a firearm are rights we were born with. By that logic it is impossible for any government to take them away.<br /><br />This <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nf1OgV449g">youtube video </a>tells it quite well. This is the telling video of methods of Swiss gun control. I think the commentary and stats speak for themselves.Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-44879853400355180782009-11-30T16:09:00.001-07:002009-11-30T16:09:38.492-07:00Just checking in.It's been slow lately. I haven't been able to write any entertaining anecdotes. I am refraining from writing about politics for a while, if I wrote what I felt about our current cluster of elected (appointed) leaders the Secret Service may be knocking on my door. The holidays are coming up. Maybe that will provide something interesting to write about. Either from stories at work, or injuries sustained while dealing with the ever expanding branches of the family tree. Only on Christmas day can I log a full tank of gas and 200 some odd miles on the truck. Off-road season is upon us, combined with the winter weather moving into the northern recreational areas I am sure I will but up at least one good story from a rescue. Lets keep our fingers crossed that the human race doesn't become smarter in the next couple of months. <br /><br />Although I will take this downtime to plug my favorite podcast of all time. The 2 Guys 1 Brain show hosted by Randy and Andy (www.2g1b.com). They are two corrections officers from the state of Washington. Highly recommended listening. I can guarantee that you will enjoy their shows. They are better than just about anything else broadcast on the radio.Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-51160979190404460672009-10-09T12:14:00.005-07:002009-10-09T12:57:02.122-07:00Nothing is ever what it seems.This is a story from my very first shift working EMS. I had been riding with a senior member of our group and we had a few good calls that day. A couple traumas, one flown to a Level 1 facility. All in all it had been a good time. It was about 2100 when we recieve a call from dispatch. A man is reporting his girlfriend and her dog missing. This guy is parked in one of the lots near a river that is rather popular for tubers. <br /><br />When we arrive we see the guy waiting by his car. He looks anxious, and oddly nervous. He is with a few bystanders that had been looking for her in their jeeps. He explains to us that his girlfriend who is in otherwise good health is suffering from an ankle injury she had sustained in a horse riding accident the weekend before. Her dog is a very young boxer puppy. Now the area she got lost in is not that large. We should have been able to hear the dog bark from where we were sitting. <br /><br />Our guy told us he told her to stay there while he moved the car. Everything the guy said made perfect sense, except the reason he left her down there. He told us he wanted to move his car before closing because he didn't want to get locked behind the gates. When we asked where he moved his car from he pointed 10 parking spaces away in the same lot and said "right there". And there was no gate at this particular lot. After that his story started to fall apart even more. We had another one of our units show up and drive the beach area and look for the victim. A few moments later a cop arrived. <br /><br />As we continue asking the guy questions we keep in radio contact with our other rescue unit. At this point we told him to start looking under bushes and similiar places where a body would be stashed. First rule of working in the field is; sometimes things aren't what they would seem. To make us even more nervous he kept getting in and out of his car looking for something. It wasn't long before the cop put a stop to that. He was quickly moving from the realm of "victim" and into that of "suspect". <br /><br />At this point we were about an hour into the search. They decided to call the helicopter and see if they could pick up anything on their FLIR. They flew the river a few times and found her. She was about 3 miles from where we estimated her to be. We couldn't get a jeep to her where she was because of the rock faces. The helicopter was able to set down and pick her up. We told the guy to get in his car and meet us at the station where the helicopter was going to land and drop her off. <br /><br />When we get there the helicopters rotors had just stopped. Our patient gets out of the helicopter with her dog. The guy we were with ran up to her to give her a hug. She turns around, looks at the nearest cop, and says "Get him the f*&% away from me". "That a#&hole left and told me he was coming back, he left me down there for 3 hours." As it turns out, they were enjoying a romantic, semi-moonlit evening down on the beach by the river. They get into an argument, and the guy tells his girlfriend that he is going to move the car, and never comes back. An hour or so later, Mr. Douche Bag feels guilty and comes back and says she got lost. She decided that she was on her own, and was going to hike the river to find someone to help her. We check her out, she signs a refusal and drives home. In her car.... he was left to walk 10 miles back into town at midnight. <br /><br />A-hole.Marknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-73078189914143199922009-09-28T12:49:00.000-07:002009-09-28T12:50:07.341-07:00Level 1 by Air...Once upon a time I was out working again. A call came out for an injured person at the lake. The story dispatch gets is that a guy climbed up a rock face and jumped into the water. When his gravitational experience came to an abrupt halt he was flat on his back in the water. The 15 or so bystanders helped him out of the water and brought him up to the highest point away from the water. Unfortunately this meant I had to climb out of a boat, and up the rock face. If you remember my previous posts, you’ll no doubt recall a story called “Climbing up the Mountain.” Oddly enough, the same cop I hiked up that mountain with previously was the one who was piloting the boat I was on. Needless to say I will never answer up a call with this guy again.<br /><br />Upon arriving, I see a young male on his back, unresponsive. As soon as I make contact with him he becomes awake and agitated. Pupils pinpoint, and displaying classic head injury symptoms. In the middle of his tantrums asking for water he would lose consciousness. Now, how to get a combative trauma patient collared, boarded, strapped, assessed, carried down a rock face, and into a boat with one EMT and 15 bystanders? This was gonna suck, and the suck was going to be bad. Fortunately I was able to hold it together long enough to use the radio properly. Thankfully I was in the one area of the lake with radio reception. “Medic 51, can you please have the officers responding expedite their response.” The next thing I learned was how loud those boat motors get when the throttle opens up, it was quite impressive. So with an army of bystanders, cops, and 2 fire medics we finally were able to get this guy secured to the back board. There really wasn’t any time or opportunity to do an assessment. We were able to look at his back before covering it with a board, and get a pulse and oxygen saturation. Back looked banged up, but no step-offs, Pulse of 43 and irregular, and oxygen saturation was about the only vitals sign we had within normal limits. Patient did admit to consuming alcohol and ecstasy. We get back to solid land, turf him to the flight medics, and that was that. <br /><br />Please, take a lesson from this. If you ever decide to jump off a rock face while under the influence of a psychoactive substance, please, please, please do it near a dock or something.Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-51340182353380039802009-09-23T18:51:00.003-07:002009-09-23T18:54:43.837-07:00From the blog : A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver.I thought this was a great tip for all those who have to deal with long bone fractures and haven't invested in a portable x-ray machine.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ems1.com/ems-products/Patient-Monitoring/articles/592414-Wait-a-Minute-You-Auscultated-What/">http://www.ems1.com/ems-products/Patient-Monitoring/articles/592414-Wait-a-Minute-You-Auscultated-What/</a><br /><br />Thanks to "Ambulance Driver" for allowing me to repost this link.Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-39961636423682618192009-09-23T10:00:00.005-07:002009-09-23T18:22:23.752-07:00PPEI am going to share with you a e-mail conversation I had with my former manager. <br /><br /><br />Manager:<br /><br />FWD:<br /><br />Aspiring models needed. In addition to informational booths and demonstrations, as part of the National Safety Month celebration I am organizing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) fashion show. I am looking for a few models for fashion shows during the upcoming National Safety Month celebration at Campus 2 on Wednesday, June 17th from 10am to 2pm in the Campus 2 Conference Center and at Campus 1 in the 1234 Building on Monday, June 22nd from 10am to 2pm. I need the models to display the appropriate and inappropriate ways to wear various types of PPE (gloves, gowns, goggles, face sheilds[sic], masks, etc.) The fashion shows will last about 5-10 minutes and are planned to run every half hour beginning at 10:15am.<br /><br />It would wonderful if any of you could volunteer some of your time between 10:15am and 2:00pm to help educate and entertain your staff at Campus 1 or 2. If you could also recommend or delegate other staff members to help in the celebration that would be great too!! If you could show up in the Conference Center or 1234 Building (report to me) at 10 minutes after the hour (10:10am, 11:10am, 12:10am 1:10am or 40 minutes after the hour 10:40am, 11:40am, 12:40am 1:40am) that would be great. You only need to bring yourself, I will supply the PPE for all the models. I will asking the audience questions about what the PPE you are modeling is appropriate for. I also plan to introduce you (so if you want to make up a model name for yourself, feel free and I will introduce you as such). Please e-mail me or call me at (55555) with your comittment or questions. Thanks for your help.<br /><br /><br />Seriously... A fashion show... She even referred to it as a celebration. Who thinks this stuff up? I can see it now. Some highly paid executive is sitting in their leather chair that is strategically perforated for proper air flow thinking "We need to do something with our excess budget...I know, we'll have a fashion show, and then we will all wear pink and have a tea party." <br /><br />It's good to know that some nimrod with an ass that is nice and cool is making these decisions that don't pertain to the staff at all. Well some of the staff will go. But these are the same hopelessly loyal people who also went to every high school football game for 3 years after they graduated. And not to pick up chicks...<br /><br /><br /><br />My reply:<br /><br />I want my model name to be "Hans Big-gloved" And I will wear a full Tyvek suite, Gas mask, and a hard had that was so generously gifted to me from the Fire Dept. I just need a pair of size 12 knee high rubber boots and some knee pads. I can probably muster up some body armor and reflective clothing. I feel that should cover the minimum PPE requirements for invasive procedures such as doing blood glucose checks and assessing lung sounds...<br /><br />Mark<br /><br />But on a serious note..... no...<br /><br /><br /><br />Needless to say I was not in the fashion show.Marknoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-5089720425278014242009-09-09T13:03:00.004-07:002009-09-14T16:45:48.881-07:00Tuesday Night Steel 9/8/09So last night my friends and I went to go shoot a steel match at the Rio Salado Range (www.riopractical.com). This is the first match I have shot since after the wedding, so it's been at least six months. If anybody tells you that shooting, or anything for that matter is a perishable skill, believe it. We safely shot the match, and finished alright. But our times sucked. We all used to be able to finish the stages in less than 100 seconds, which isn't great. But our times were closer to the mid to high 100's. We sucked. We need more range time. Bad...<br /><br />Is anyone willing to sponsor some amateur shooters??? We'll take all the bullets, powders, and primers we can get.Marknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-16588205752477774782009-09-02T17:16:00.008-07:002012-12-03T19:27:34.302-07:00When you jack up your ankle, please do it at sea level.So there I was working at one of our local outdoor recreational areas. It has been a somewhat slow day so my partner left early. As I am driving around I am thinking of what kind of stuff might happen later in the day. Would we get lucky and have a nice trauma call, or maybe get to respond to something in one of the off-roading areas. Maybe I'll even get to turn my lights on today. No, Not so much...<br /><br />So while I am driving I hear "We're getting a report of an injury, a hiker with a broken ankle stuck on a cliff over the Lake" come over the radio. "Ummm" I think, " a broken ankle, that could be cool". Then I realize that they said "cliff". Cliff's are pointy, and tall, and to make this even more concerning, there was water under this particular one. I right then made the quick decision that I am not going anywhere near this frigging cliff. So I get on the radio and let them know, what I said was "Medic 51, show me responding". What I wanted to say was "Medic 51, I am gonna go get a burger and an icy cold Coke, let me know when they get this patient closer to sea level".<br /><br />Now just a point of clarification here, since this is my first post relating to any kind of story. My call sign is not Medic 51. I changed it to protect the ignorant. However 51 is a really cool number, and I wanted to put in a little reference to Johnny and Roy, and if you don't know Johnny and Roy, your need to check out www.hulu.com and look up "Emergency".<br /><br />So anyway, after a short drive I show up to see two cops beat me there. There talking with the patients family members to get some information and find out whats going on. So as it turns out this 50 year old guy decided to go hiking with the family. And he decided, that like many other things in life, his trip would be made better by consuming massive quantities of alcohol. <br /><br />So here's the run down so far. A drunk guy, with a bad ankle, on a cliff. A big, pointy, tall, hot, sharp cliff. <br /><br />And to put me at ease, he isn't on top of a cliff strictly speaking. He was just on top of a tall hill, or depending on how you look at it, a small mountain. Our plan so far is to tell this guy to stop moving, sit down, and wait for the helicopter to pick him up. We figure by the time we got to him he had been up there with no water, and this ankle injury for at least an hour and a half. The sooner we got this drunk dude to sit down and get the helicopter to him we could get him to me. All the while I will be sitting in my comfortably air conditioned truck listening to music and drinking an ice cold Coke Zero. <br /><br />As the helicopter is on the way we keep watching this guy. He won't stay still. This a problem because we are going to be putting a helicopter up there. Helicopters are dangerous things. They have spinning rotors that throw little bits of rocks, dirt, cactus, and other such hard pointy things around. Add in the fact that the sun is going down and the situation sucks even more. <br /><br />While all this is going on one of the cops on scene looks at me and says "You got your hiking boots on?" I reply "shit". I put together a some supplies in my Camelback and get ready to go. Obviously this guy I started hiking with is an experienced desert hiker, and I am not. And I would also like to personally thank the guy who decided to put a barb wire fence in the middle of nowhere. It was rather comical listening to the radio chatter of the units on the ground. Stuff like "we might need the helicopter for the medic". I will admit that the cop I was hiking with was a good 100 yards ahead of me. But in all fairness, I don't hike, the atmosphere was getting thinner, and I think he was levitating...<br /><br />Once we finally do get to the top we see our patient. Well actually we smell our patient, then we see him. He is a late 40's male, with a history of substance abuse, and drunk. His ankle is pretty swollen, and the foot looks a bit cyanotic, but otherwise fine. He was a bit hypertensive, but frankly so was I. <br /><br />About ten minutes after we get to the top of the hill the helicopter shows up. This is a police helicopter that can deliver the patient to the ambulance waiting on the ground. I can't explain how excited I was to not have to hike down that mountain, but rather have a ride down with a helicopter. That didn't turn out to be the case though. For about 15 minutes the helicopter couldn't find a good place to set down. While it was moving around and hovering looking for a landing zone we were being pelted with small rocks and assorted other desert lifeforms. Although I do have to say, looking up to see a helicopter shifting side to side 20 feet above your head is quite the eerie experience. <br /><br />Eventually they do find a place to set one skid down. ONE skid, the other one was kind of hanging off the edge of a rock face. Suddenly I decided that I wasn't so excited about a helicopter ride. Fortunately for me, they told us to hike back down, unfortunately for me, they told us to hike back down. The trip down wasn't quite as bad. It was pretty dark, but our pilot was nice enough to fly back around and light the area up for us. Once again, thanks for that barb wire fence.Marknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642458594830251335.post-43489487640201873732009-09-02T16:44:00.002-07:002009-09-02T17:13:24.746-07:00Post #1For years I have seen, done, and heard a great many funny, stupid, and interesting things. Lately I had the great idea to put them all online to share with the world. Or at least a very small part of it, or mostly just the people who follow me on facebook.<br /><br />Let me tell you a little about myself. I am 24 years old guy living and working in Arizona. I work at an undisclosed hospital, and volunteer as an EMT for an undisclosed agency. As a hobby I enjoy practical shooting and other similar sports. I would love to do it more, but lead has gotten quite expensive. And in March of this year I married a VERY VERY tolerant woman. No really... I do some stupid shit... anyone else would have probably kicked me to the curb by now.<br /><br />Honestly this is the weakest into in the history of internet blogging, but I really have nothing else to say right now. Check back for new updates. And please feel free to leave comments. <br /><br />Mark.Marknoreply@blogger.com0